Closing assemblies for clamping device

ABSTRACT

A closing assembly for a clamping device having first and second jaw members includes a closing mechanism connected between the first and second jaw members, the jaws extending distally from the closing mechanism; and a member for applying a separating force to the first and second jaw members proximally of the closing mechanism, whereby the first and second jaw members can be maintained substantially parallel during closing. The clamp has a very strong clamping force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, toa closing assembly for a clamping device.

Various clamping devices are used during surgical and other medicalprocedures to grasp tissue and hold same as may be desired. The closingassemblies for such clamping devices typically involve a hinge and somemechanism for closing the jaws of the clamp mechanism around the hinge.Unfortunately, this can lead to “alligator” closing of the clamps, whichcan allow the tissue to be clamped to slip out of the jaws before thetissue is fully secured.

This issue with closing of conventional clamping mechanisms can lead tovarious problems and complications during procedures, since escape oftissue from the clamp can result in delays in surgical procedures,injury to the patient, and various other undesirable results.

Known clamping devices can also fail due to insufficient clamping force.

It is clear that the need remains for an improved closing assembly forsuch clamping devices.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide aclosing assembly for a clamping device wherein “alligator” closing isavoided and a very strong clamping force is provided.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closingassembly for a clamping device which can be controlled to allow for awide range of controlled motion of closing and opening of the jawmembers from each other.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects andadvantages have been readily attained.

According to the invention, a closing assembly is provided for aclamping device having first and second jaw members, wherein the closingassembly comprises a closing mechanism connected between the first andsecond jaw members, the jaws extending distally from the closingmechanism; and means for applying a separating force to the first andsecond jaw members proximally of the closing mechanism, whereby thefirst and second jaw members can be maintained substantially parallelduring closing.

In further accordance with the invention, the closing mechanismadvantageously includes rotatable members, specifically rotatable disks,which are mounted relative to the jaws, and which have link members alsorotatably mounted between the disks and the jaws, such that rotation ofthe disk causes the jaws to open and close. The means for applying aseparating force can advantageously be a spring of various well-knowndesign, or a second rotatable member or disk assembly, similar to theclosing mechanism, either one of which can advantageously be used toprevent alligator closing of the jaws, by maintaining the jawssubstantially parallel during closing.

The spring assembly serves to prevent alligator closing by applying aseparating force to the proximal ends of the jaw members, which servesto keep these ends separated, and thereby to keep the distal ends of thejaws more closely aligned while the closing mechanism pulls them closed.

The assembly of the present invention provides for a very strongclamping force which is particularly desirable.

In the embodiment wherein the means for applying a separating force is afurther rotatable member closing mechanism, these mechanisms can beoperated or controlled together or independently, if desired, to providefor any desired orientation of jaws of the clamping device relative toeach other.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein themeans for applying a separating force is also a rotatable disk closingmechanism, the two closing mechanisms can be joined by a link such thatdriving of one closing mechanism operates both mechanisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present inventionfollows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a closing assembly in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the closing assembly of FIG. 1 in a jaw-openposition;

FIG. 3 illustrates a closing assembly in accordance with an alternativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the closing assembly of FIG. 3 with the jaws in anopen position;

FIG. 5 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a rotatable disk element of a closingassembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 better illustrates the drive mechanism of a closing assembly inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 further illustrates the rotatable disk element of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a closing assembly for clamping devices,especially for clamping devices for surgical instruments. The closingassembly provides for an excellent clamping force and, also, for closingof the jaws with a desired orientation of the jaws relative to eachother.

FIG. 1 shows a closing assembly 10 for a clamping device 12 wherein theclamping device has a first jaw 14 and a second jaw 16 which are used tograsp tissue and other items during surgical stapling or otherprocedures. Closing assembly 10 is advantageously used in accordancewith the present invention to open and close jaws 14, 16, andparticularly to close jaws 14, 16 with the jaws maintained in a desiredorientation, preferably substantially parallel, during the closingmovement.

FIG. 2 shows closing assembly 10 for clamping device 12 with jaws 14, 16in an open position. The following descriptions should be consideredwith reference to both FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to the invention, closing assembly 10 advantageously includesa rotatable member 18 which is positioned relative to jaws 14, 16 suchthat rotation of rotatable member 18 causes opening and closing movementof jaws 14, 16 relative to each other.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,rotatable member 18 is provided in the form of one or more disks 20which are rotatably mounted to jaw 14 at one point of rotation 22, and alink member 24 which is rotatably connected to disk 20 at a second pointof rotation 26. Link 24 is also pivotably connected to jaw 16 at a pointof rotation 28. Closing assembly 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2functions through rotation of disk 20 which pivots link 24 and causes orallows jaws 14, 16 to open to the position of FIG. 2 when rotated in onedirection, and closes jaws 14, 16 to the position of FIG. 1 when rotatedin the other direction.

The disk and link configuration of closing assembly 10 of the presentinvention advantageously allows for a very strong clamping force to begenerated, which is particularly useful in surgical and otherapplications.

In accordance with the present invention, in addition to the closingmechanism portion of closing assembly 10, which is referred to in thedrawings as closing mechanism 11, a member is provided for applying aseparating force to jaw members 14, 16, which advantageously serves toprevent the above-described issues in connection with “alligator”closing of jaws 14, 16. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thismember for applying a separating force is generally referred to aselement 13, and in this embodiment is provided as a spring 30 compressedbetween proximal ends of jaws 14, 16 and applying a separating force toresist alligator closing of jaws 14, 16.

In connection with the present invention, jaws 14, 16 have distal ends32 and proximal ends 34. In the embodiment shown, jaw 14 extendsproximally further than jaw 16, and the portion referred to as proximalend 34 of this jaw 14 is actually not the end of the jaw. Nevertheless,at this portion, which is proximally located relative to closingmechanism 11, application of a separating force between ends 34 of jaws14, 16 advantageously provides a force counter to the force applied bytissue being clamped between jaws 14, 16 such that jaws 14, 16 can bemaintained substantially parallel during closing using closing mechanism11.

In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the member13 for applying a separating force is provided as a simple compressiblespring. As an alternative, member 13 could be provided as leaf springlikewise positioned to exert a separating force against proximal ends 34of jaws 14, 16 as desired.

It should readily be appreciated that this mechanism, in accordance withthe present invention, advantageously serves to maintain jaws 14, 16 ina desired attitude, preferably substantially parallel relative to eachother, during a clamping of tissue between jaws 14, 16. This serves toavoid orientation of jaws 14, 16 which would allow for tissue to escapeduring the clamping operation.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, closing mechanism 11 is the same as isdescribed in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, as are jaw members 14, 16.Thus, in connection with these elements, like reference numeralsillustrate like parts. In accordance with this embodiment, however, themember 13 for applying a separating force is provided as a furtherrotatable member, or proximal rotatable member 36, which is similar instructure and operation to rotatable member 18 of closing mechanism 11.As shown, in this embodiment, rotatable member 36 is likewise providedas a disk 38 which is rotatably connected to jaw 14 at a pivot point 44,and a link member 42 is provided and rotatably connected to disk 38 atpoint 40 of rotation. Link 42 is also connected to jaw 16 at a secondpoint 46 of rotation. With this configuration, and similar to operationof closing mechanism 11, when disk 38 is rotated, link 42 travels aroundthe periphery of disk 38 and serves to open and close jaws 14, 16depending upon direction of rotation of disk 38. It should be noted thatthe pivot point distances on the disk, that is, the distance between thepivot points on the disk, is preferably not identical to the distancebetween pivot points of the link. These distances can be selected toallow for various opening and closing options to be designed into theassembly. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, thepivot point distance on the disk is different from the pivot pointdistance on the link. If these distances are the same, some otheradaption may be needed to prevent mutual rotation of the link with thedisk.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, member 13 for applying theseparating force is actually a controllable member, and in thisconfiguration jaws 14, 16 can be opened and/or closed with any desiredorientation of one relative to the other. Thus, if it is desired toclose jaws 14, 16 at a decreasing spacing, that is, the inverse ofalligator closing, this can readily be accomplished through independentcontrol or driving of member 13 relative to closing mechanism 11. Thus,the embodiment of FIGS. 3-4 allows for positioning of the jaws parallelor toed in or out as desired during the closing procedure.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a portion of a closing assembly 10 inaccordance with a further preferred embodiment, wherein disks 20, 38 areutilized as the closing mechanism and means for applying a separatingforce respectively. In this embodiment, disks 20, 38 are linked using alink member 48 which is pivotably connected at pivot points of disks 20,38 such that rotation of these disks is carried out simultaneously.Furthermore, in this embodiment, only one disk 20, 38 needs to bedriven, and rotation of the driven disk will rotate the other disk aswell. This serves to ensure that jaws 14, 16 are maintainedsubstantially parallel during a closing procedure, of course, both diskscan be driven if desired.

In the above-described Figures, disks 20, 38 have been described ashaving various different pivot points 22, 26, 40 and 44. At least onepivot point on the disk should be non-centric, that is, spaced from thecenter of the disk. This serves to generate the desired opening andclosing motions when the disks are rotated. The distance of pivot points22, 26 from the center of the disk helps to determine the rate andextent of opening and closing provided. Further structure of the disksis describe and shown below in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9.

Also in these embodiments, a drive member is provided for rotating thedisks as desired. In the Figures, this drive member is provided as oneor more cables 50 which are positioned around disks 20, 38 such thatlongitudinal movement of cables 50 generates pulley-like rotation ofdisks 20, 38 as desired. Cables 50 are particularly advantageous becausethey can be positioned to extend through the shaft of an elongatesurgical instrument, for example such as that which is used inlaparoscopic procedures. Cable 50 is further readily adapted toconnection to various different trigger assemblies wherein longitudinalmovement is utilized to control surgical instruments. Thus, cables 50for use in driving disks 20, 38 should be readily adaptable tohandle-members of various different surgical instruments.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a disk 20, 38 in accordance with the presentinvention is further illustrated. As shown, disk 20, 38 advantageouslyhas two disk side portions 52, 54 which are separated by a peripheralgroove 56 in which cable 50 can be positioned for pulley-like movementof disk 20, 38 as desired. In addition, one side 52 of disk 20, 38 isfurther advantageously provided with a thicker portion 58, whichadvantageously serves as a stop for a link pivotably connected to pivotpoint 26, 44. FIG. 6 further shows a center point 60 of disk 20, 38, andthereby illustrates the offset nature of pivot points 40, 44 relative tosame.

Turning now to FIG. 7, the drive mechanism including cable 50 is betterillustrated, with cable 50 shown in solid lines. As shown, cable 50advantageously extends through jaw 14 and past a guide member 62 to thenpass around disk 20. When cable 50 comes off of disk 20, it passesaround a further guide member 64, and extends back out of jaw 14. Cables50 can likewise extend past guide members 66, 68 to pass around disk 38,as well. In this manner, movement of cable 50 in pulley-like fashionserves to rotate disks 20, 38, as desired. Such movement can begenerated using various different conventional trigger mechanisms whichwould be connected at a proximal end to cables 50.

It should also be appreciated that while cables 50 are shown as thedrive member for disks 20, 38 in accordance with the present invention,other mechanisms for rotating these disks could likewise be used andwould be well within the broad scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 further illustrate disks 20, 38 and a preferred structurefor securing cables 50 relative to disks 20, 38. As shown, disks 20, 38advantageously are provided with two cable passages 70, preferablypassing laterally through the disk. FIGS. 8 and 9 show passages 70spaced from a center of the disk and substantially parallel. Otherconfigurations of passages 70, and one or more than two passages 70 alsofall well within the broad scope of the invention. Disks 20, 38preferably have an inset central portion 72 at one end, between passages70.

FIG. 8 shows an advantageous positioning of cable 50 according to theinvention which cable 50 passes through the peripheral groove 56 on oneside into one passage 70, around inset central portion 72, back throughthe other passage 70, and around the peripheral groove 56 on the otherside. In this way, cable 50 is held fast in position relative to disk20, 38 so that back and forth tensioning of cable 50 rotates the disk asdesired.

It should be appreciated that while disks 20, 38 are shown in thisembodiment as using passages 70 to secure cable 50, other structurescould be used to secure cable 50 and would be well within the broadscope of the present invention.

Still referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, passages 70 and peripheral grooves 56define there between two circle-segment shaped sections 74 of the disks.At an end of sections 74 facing away from central portion 72, roundedcorners 76 can advantageously be provided to smoothly receive cable 50positioned as shown. In this configuration, it should also beappreciated that inset central portion 72 allows cable 50 to passthrough this portion of disks 20, 38 without extending beyond theperipheral edge of the disk, where it might interfere with properrotation.

It should readily be appreciated that the embodiment of the presentinvention as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 above can advantageously beutilized to close jaws of a clamping device while avoiding problems andissues which arise during closing of conventional devices. Theseproblems occur due to “alligator” closing of the jaws, wherein thedistal ends of the jaws are spread during the closing procedure.

In the present invention, the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be used tosubstantially avoid any alligator closing, while the embodiment of FIG.3 can be used to provide complete control over the orientation of jaws14, 16 during closing, while the embodiment of FIG. 5 can be used toprovide substantial simultaneous operation of the closing mechanism andmember for applying a separating force which leads to substantiallyconstant jaw orientation, preferably substantially parallel closing ofjaws 14, 16, as desired.

One particular type of surgical instrument with which the closingmechanism can be used is a clamping and stapling mechanism, wherein thejaws 14, 16 also include a plurality of staple-forming mechanisms whichare applied to tissue after they are grasped with the jaws. Of course,any type of clamping or other closing mechanism would be well suited foruse with the closing mechanism in accordance with the present invention,particularly when “alligator” closing is an issue.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merelyillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible to modification of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetails of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass allsuch modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined bythe claims.

1. A closing assembly for a clamping device having first and second jawmembers, comprising: a closing mechanism connected between the first andsecond jaw members, the jaws extending distally from the closingmechanism; and means for applying a separating force to the first andsecond jaw members proximally of the closing mechanism, whereby thefirst and second jaw members can be maintained substantially parallelduring closing.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the closingmechanism comprises a rotatable member rotatably mounted relative to onejaw of the first and second jaw members, and a link member movablyconnected between the other jaw of the first and second jaw members andthe rotatable member, whereby rotation of the rotatable member moves thefirst and second jaw members between an open and a closed position. 3.The assembly of claim 2, wherein the rotatable member comprises a disk,and wherein the disk is mounted to the one jaw at a non-centric pointrelative to the disk, and wherein the link member is also mounted to thedisk at another non-centric point relative to the disk.
 4. The assemblyof claim 3, further comprising a drive member for rotating the diskrelative to the first and second jaw members.
 5. The assembly of claim4, wherein the drive member comprises a flexible member passing aroundthe disk for pulley-like rotation of the disk responsive to movement ofthe flexible member.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the means forapplying a separating force comprises a spring member positioned betweenthe first and second jaw member and exerting the separating forceagainst the first and second jaw members.
 7. The assembly of claim 6,wherein the spring member is a coiled spring.
 8. The assembly of claim6, wherein the spring member is a leaf spring.
 9. The assembly of claim2, wherein the means for applying a separating force comprises aproximal rotatable member rotatably mounted relative to one jaw of thefirst and second jaw members, and a link member movably connectedbetween the other jaw of the first and second jaw members and therotatable member, whereby rotation of the rotatable member applies andremoves the separating force.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, furthercomprising a link member rotatably connected to the rotatable member andthe proximal rotatable member whereby rotation of one member of therotatable member and the proximal rotatable member rotates the othermember of the rotatable member and the proximal rotatable member. 11.The assembly of claim 10, further comprising a drive member for rotatingone of the rotatable member and the proximal rotatable member.
 12. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members define asurgical clamp.
 13. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the disk has atleast one cable passage.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the diskhas two substantially lateral cable passages.
 15. The assembly of claim14, further comprising a cable passing through the cable passages. 16.The assembly of claim 15, further comprising an inset central portiondefined between the cable passages, and wherein the cable extends fromone passage along the inset central portion to the other passage.
 17. Aclosing assembly for a clamping device having first and second jawmembers, comprising: same as claim 1, but clamp “means” to “a springmember.”
 18. A closing assembly for a clamping device having first andsecond jaw members, comprising: at least two spaced closing mechanismsconnected between the first and second jaw members and spaced along anaxis of the jaw members, wherein the closing mechanisms can be operatedto close the jaw members at a desired orientation of one relative to theother.
 19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least two spacedclosing mechanisms are independently driven.